Kizhi Island is one of over 1650 islands in Lake Onega, the second largest lake in Europe. Lake Onega is found in the Republic of Karelia, and Kizhi is one of the largest outdoor museums in Russia. Kizhi focuses on peasant life and customs in the Russian north and includes 83 wooden structures, most of which date back to the 18th or 19th century.
Kizhi Island is often included as a port of call on Russian Waterways cruises between St. Petersburg and Moscow. The museum has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1990. The open air exhibit includes churches, homes, and other old wooden buildings that were either built on Kizhi or have been collected from around northern Russia and preserved on Kizhi.
We visited Kizhi for a day from the Grand Circle M/S Rossia and loved walking around and learning about this fascinating part of the world. It was a rainy day, but the trails were wooden or paved, so we just wore our rain suits and carried umbrellas.
- Traditional Wooden House in the Kizhi Island Open Air Museum in Russia Traditional Wooden House in the Kizhi Island Open Air Museum in Russia
- Spinning Thread in the Traditional Way at a Karelian House in RussiaSpinning Thread in the Traditional Way at a Karelian House in Russia
- Bedroom in a Traditional Karelian House in Russia on Kizhi IslandBedroom in a Traditional Karelian House in Russia on Kizhi Island
- Kitchen in a Traditional Karelian House at the Kizhi Island Open Air MuseumKitchen in a Traditional Karelian House at the Kizhi Island Open Air Museum in Russia
- Living Area in a Traditional Karelian House at the Kizhi Island Open Air MuseumLiving Area in a Traditional Karelian House at the Kizhi Island Open Air Museum in Russia
- Birds Enjoying the View at the Kizhi Open Air Museum in RussiaBirds Enjoying the View at the Kizhi Open Air Museum in Russia
- Sled and Living Area in a Traditional Karelian House at Kizhi IslandSled and Living Area in a Traditional Karelian House at the Open Air Museum in Kizhi, Russia
- Making Jewelry at Kizhi Island Open Air Museum in Karelia, RussiaMaking Jewelry at Kizhi Island Open Air Museum in Karelia, Russia
- Old Wooden Boat at the Kizhi Island Open Air Museum in RussiaOld Wooden Boat at the Kizhi Island Open Air Museum in Russia
- Grand Circle M/S Rossia Passengers Leaving the Traditional Karelian HouseGrand Circle M/S Rossia Passengers Exit the Karelian House at the Kizhi Open Air Museum in Russia
- Russian Banya (Sauna) at the Kizhi Open Air MuseumRussian Banya (Sauna) at the Kizhi Open Air Museum
- Inside of a Russian Banya at the Kizhi Island Open Air MuseumInside of a Russian Banya at the Kizhi Island Open Air Museum
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